Formation of CH$sup +$ in interstellar clouds

It is suggested that the production of CH$sup +$ in interstellar clouds occurs by a chemical scheme initiated by the radiative association of C$sup +$ and H$sub 2$. The scheme leads to CH$sub 2$ $sup +$ and CH$sub 3$ $sup +$ which are photodissociated to give CH$sup +$. In contrast to previous formation mechanisms, it is not necessary to suppose that the dissociative recombination of CH$sup +$ is anomalously slow. The same chemical sequence is also able to produce CH in harmony with the measured abundances.